Method and system for improved communication network setup utilizing extended terminals

ABSTRACT

Aspects of a method and system for improved communication network setup utilizing extended terminals are presented. Aspects of the method may comprise configuring a wireless Ethernet terminal functioning as a client station by a configurator via a network. The configured wireless Ethernet terminal may wirelessly receives information from a wireless station, and communicate the wirelessly received information to at least one of a plurality of wired stations via at least one of a plurality of corresponding wired interfaces. Aspects of the system may comprise a collocated device functioning as a configurator that configures a wireless Ethernet terminal functioning as a client station via a network. The configured wireless Ethernet terminal may wirelessly receives information from a wireless station, and communicate the wirelessly received information to at least one of a plurality of wired stations via at least one of a plurality of corresponding wired interfaces.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application makes reference to, claims priority to, and claims thebenefit of:

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/602,396 filed Aug. 18, 2004;and

U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/671,120 filed Apr. 14, 2005.

This application also makes reference to:

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/207,302 filed Aug. 18, 2005;

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/207,262 filed Aug. 18, 2005;

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/207,658 filed Aug. 18, 2005;

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/208,081 filed Aug. 18, 2005;

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/208,310 filed Aug. 18, 2005;

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/208,275 filed Aug. 18, 2005;

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/208,346 filed Aug. 18, 2005;

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/207,661 filed Aug. 18, 2005;

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/207,301 filed Aug. 18, 2005; and

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/208,284 filed Aug. 18, 2005.

All of the above referenced applications are hereby incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to wireless networkcommunication. More specifically, certain embodiments of the inventionrelate to a method and system for improved communication network setuputilizing extended terminals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, with some conventional systems, setting up a wireless networkgenerally requires significant interaction and technical knowledge onthe part of a user setting up the network, especially when the user isconfiguring security options for the network. For computer savvy users,the tasks associated with setting up a wireless network can be timeconsuming. However, for inexperienced computer users, the tasksassociated with setting up a wireless network can be more challengingand consumes significantly greater time than required by computer savvyusers.

In general, 802.11-based networks require a significant amount of userinteraction during the configuration process. Typically, withconventional 802.11-based networks, the user needs to configure astation (STA) to associate to an access point (AP), which may require anumber of settings to be selected on the STA, and some knowledge of thedefault configuration of the AP. The user may then access an HTML-basedmenu on the new AP in order to set various configuration parameters,many of which are difficult for novice and for intermediate users tounderstand and set correctly. New APs generally start with aconfiguration that provides no network security, and which utilize adefault network name (SSID) that is selected by the manufacturer suchas, for example, “Manufacturer Name”, “Default”, or “wireless”. With theproliferation of 802.11 networks, users often experience confusion andnetwork problems when their new AP uses the same SSID as a neighboringAP.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention asset forth in the remainder of the present application with reference tothe drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and systemfor improved communication network setup utilizing extended terminalssubstantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at leastone of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for wireless datacommunications comprising an ESS with collocation of configurators andaccess points (AP), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of an exemplary system for wireless datacommunications comprising a BSS with extended terminals via a wirelessEthernet terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 b is a block diagram for a software environment in an exemplarywireless Ethernet terminal, which may be utilized in connection with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary basic service set environmentthat comprises a wireless Ethernet terminal, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps by which a wirelessEthernet terminal may detect a wired station, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps by which a wirelessEthernet terminal may communicate information received from a wirelessterminal to a wired terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps by which a wirelessEthernet terminal may communicate information received from a wiredterminal to a wireless terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and systemfor improved communication network setup utilizing extended terminals.Aspects of the invention may comprise configuring a wireless Ethernetterminal functioning as a client station by a configurator via anetwork. The configured wireless Ethernet terminal may wirelesslyreceives information from a wireless station, and communicate thewirelessly received information to at least one of a plurality of wiredstations via at least one of a plurality of corresponding wiredinterfaces. Aspects of the system may comprise a collocated devicefunctioning as a configurator that configures a wireless Ethernetterminal functioning as a client station via a network. The configuredwireless Ethernet terminal may wirelessly receives information from awireless station, and communicate the wirelessly received information toat least one of a plurality of wired stations via at least one of aplurality of corresponding wired interfaces.

In IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) systems, wirelessterminal devices, or wireless terminals, for example personal computersor personal digital assistants, may communicate via radio frequency (RF)channels that may be monitored by unauthorized parties at terminaldevices that were not intended to participate in the communication. Inresponse, IEEE 802.11 provides specifications that enable wirelessterminal devices to communicate utilizing encryption techniques. Theutilization of encryption techniques to securely exchange informationbetween wireless terminals may prevent unauthorized parties fromdetermining the information content carried in communications via asecure RF channel. Prior to being enabled to utilize a WLAN, thewireless terminal device may be required to obtain authorization througha process that comprises authentication.

Enabling a wireless terminal device to obtain authorization and toutilize encryption may require a user to manually configure the wirelessterminal. This manual configuration may require a user to possessextensive knowledge about the WLAN that may exceed that of a typicalWLAN user. An aspect of the invention may comprise a method that reducesuser interaction and knowledge required to configure a wireless terminalfor secure communications in an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network(WLAN). Components in a system, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention, may comprise a configurator, which may alternatively bereferred to as a configurator terminal, configurator device, orconfigurator station, and a client, which may be alternatively referredto as a client terminal, client device, or client station. Aconfigurator station, or a client station, may be referred to as astation.

The configurator may be a wireless and/or wired terminal device, anEthernet switching device, or other device in an IEEE 802 local areanetwork (LAN) and/or WLAN. The configurator may be located in an accesspoint, for example. The configurator may provide a service to configureclients, which may be wireless terminal devices, thereby enabling theconfigured clients to utilize secure RF channels with little interactionrequired from the user. The client may be a wireless and/or wiredterminal device, an Ethernet switching device, or other device in anIEEE 802 LAN and/or WLAN.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for wireless datacommunications comprising an ESS with collocation of configurators andaccess points (AP), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.With reference to FIG. 1 there is shown a distribution system (DS) 110,an extended service set (ESS) 120, and an IEEE 802 LAN 122. The ESS 120may comprise a first basic service set (BSS) 102, and may include asecond BSS 112, and may also include additional BSSs. The first BSS 102may comprise a client station 104, and a collocated configurator stationand access point 108. The second BSS 112 may comprise a client station114, and a collocated configurator station and access point 118. TheIEEE 802 LAN 122 may comprise a LAN station 124, and a portal 126.

The collocated configurator station and access point 108 may be adaptedto function as an access point or as a configurator station. Throughoutthis application, for simplicity, collocated configurator station andaccess point 108 may be referred to as collocated device 108.Accordingly, the collocated device 108 functioning as an access pointrefers to the collocated configurator station and access point 108functioning as an access point. Additionally, the collocated device 108functioning as a configurator refers to the collocated configuratorstation and access point 108 functioning as a configurator.

A BSS 102 may comprise a plurality of proximately located stations thatmay communicate wirelessly, via a wireless medium. A BSS 102 that isalso associated with an ESS 120 may be referred to an infrastructureBSS. The wireless medium may comprise an RF channel. The ESS 120,comprising a plurality of BSS 102 and 112, for example, may beidentified by a unique service set identifier (SSID). The portal 126 mayalso be a member in the ESS 120. Stations 104 and 114, associated withan ESS 220, respectively, may communicate via a wireless medium and/orvia a distribution system medium, for example the DS 110. The DS 110 maycomprise a distribution system medium that further comprises a wiredmedium and/or a wireless medium. A wired medium may comprise a physicalcommunications channel that enables STA 104 to transmit information viaa plurality of communications technologies, for example electrical oroptical signals. In an IEEE 802.11 WLAN, the collocated configuratorstation and access point 108 or 118 may comprise the functionality of anAP and the functionality of a configurator. In an IEEE 802.11 WLAN, anAP may comprise the functionality of a station.

The collocated device 108 functioning as an AP, may enable STA 104 totransmit information via the DS 110. Portal 126 may enable a LAN station124, which is located in a traditional IEEE 802 LAN, to communicate withan IEEE 802.11 STA 104, via the DS 110. A traditional IEEE 802 LAN maycomprise a wired medium. An IEEE 802 LAN 122 may not comprise an IEEE802.11 WLAN, for example BSS 102. The DS 110 may utilize media accesscontrol (MAC) layer IEEE 802 addressing and/or network layer addressing.If the DS 110 utilizes MAC layer IEEE 802 addressing, the collocateddevice 108 functioning as an AP, collocated configurator station andaccess point 118 functioning as an AP, and/or the portal 126 maycomprise Ethernet switching device functionality. If the DS 110 utilizesnetwork layer addressing, the collocated device 108 functioning as anAP, collocated configurator station and access point 118 functioning asan AP, and/or the portal 126 may comprise router functionality.

The collocated device 108 functioning as a configurator may configure aSTA 104, thereby enabling the STA 104 to communicate wirelessly in asecure IEEE 802.11 network that utilizes encryption. The collocateddevice 108 functioning as a configurator, may configure a STA 104 bycommunicating information to the STA 104 comprising an SSID and anencryption key. The encryption key may also be referred to as apassphrase. A configured STA 104 may be authorized to utilize an IEEE802.11 network based on the received configuration information from thecollocated device 108 functioning as a configurator. A process by whichthe STA 104 is authenticated may comprise configuration of the STA 104.Various embodiments of the invention comprise a method and a system forconfiguring the STA 104 while requiring less manual intervention from auser than is the case with some conventional methods and/or systems forconfiguring the STA 104.

A non-AP station, for example, the client station 104 within the BSS 102may subsequently form an association with the collocated device 108functioning as an AP. The STA 104 may communicate an association requestto the collocated device 108 functioning as an AP, based on the SSIDthat was received by the STA 104 during configuration. The collocateddevice 108 functioning as an AP, may communicate an association responseto the STA 104 to indicate to the STA 104 the result of the associationrequest. By associating with the collocated device 108 functioning as anAP, the station 104 may become a member of BSS 102. Furthermore, byobtaining membership in BSS 102, the STA 104 may become authorized toengage in secure wireless communication with other client stations inthe ESS 120. Similarly, non-AP client station 114 within a BSS 112 mayform an association with the collocated configurator station and accesspoint 118 functioning as an AP, enabling the STA 114 to become a memberof BSS 112.

Subsequent to the formation of an association between the client station104 and the collocated device 108 functioning as an AP, the collocateddevice 108 functioning as an AP, may communicate accessibilityinformation about the client station 104 to other APs associated withthe ESS 120, such as the collocated configurator station and accesspoint 118 functioning as an AP, and portals such as the portal 126. Inturn, the collocated configurator station and access point 118functioning as an AP, may communicate accessibility information aboutthe client station 104 to stations in BSS 112. The portal 126, such asfor example an Ethernet switch or other device in a LAN, may communicatereachability information about the client station 104 to stations in LAN122, such as LAN station 124. The communication of reachabilityinformation about the client station 104 may enable stations that arenot associated in BSS 102, but are associated in ESS 120, to communicatewith the client station 104.

The DS 110 may provide an infrastructure that enables a client station104 in one BSS 102, which has been authenticated and configured inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention, to engage in asecure wireless communication with a client station 114 in another BSS112. The DS 110 may also enable a client station 104 in one BSS 102 tocommunicate with a LAN station 124 in a non-802.11 LAN 122, such as awired LAN. The collocated device 108 functioning as an AP, collocatedconfigurator station and access point 118 functioning as an AP, orportal 126 may provide a facility by which a station in a BSS 102, BSS112, or LAN 122 may communicate information via the DS 110. The clientstation 104 in BSS 102 may communicate information to a client station114 in BSS 112 by transmitting the information to collocated device 108functioning as an AP. The collocated device 108 functioning as an AP maytransmit the information via the DS 110 to the collocated configuratorstation and access point 118 functioning as an AP, which, in turn, maytransmit the information to station 114 in BSS 112. The client station104 may communicate information to a LAN station 124 in LAN 122 bytransmitting the information to collocated device 108 functioning as anAP. The collocated device 108 functioning as an AP, may transmit theinformation via the DS 110 to the portal 126, which, in turn, maytransmit the information to the LAN station 124 in LAN 122.

In some conventional networks, a wired LAN station 124 and a wirelessclient station 104 may communicate via a portal 126, DS 110, and/orcollocated device 108 functioning as an AP. Various embodiments of theinvention may comprise a method and a system by which a wired LANstation 124 and a wireless client station 104 may communicate via awireless Ethernet terminal (WET) device. The WET may be a member of acommon BSS 102 with the client station 104. The WET may communicate withthe client station 104 via an RF channel. The WET may communicate withthe LAN station 124 via a wired interface.

FIG. 2 a is a block diagram of an exemplary system for wireless datacommunications comprising a BSS with extended terminals via a wirelessEthernet terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.With reference to FIG. 2 a there is shown a DS 110, an ESS 120, a LANstation 218, and a wired interface 216. The ESS 220 may comprise a BSS102, a BSS 212, and may also include additional BSSs. The BSS 102 maycomprise a client station 104, and a collocated configurator station andaccess point 108. The BSS 212 may comprise a client station 114, acollocated configurator station and access point 118, and a wirelessEthernet terminal (WET) 214.

The WET 214 may comprise functionality of a client station 104 withinthe BSS 212. The WET 214 functioning as a client station may beconfigured by a collocated device 118 functioning as a configurator, inaccordance with various embodiments of the invention. The WET 214functioning as an Ethernet LAN terminal device may communicate with awired LAN station 218, via a wired interface 216. The wired interface216 may be coupled to a port that is located at the WET 214. The WET 214functioning as an Ethernet LAN terminal device may comprise a pluralityof ports, wherein a subsequent port that is located at the WET 214 maybe coupled to a subsequent wired interface 216. The subsequent wiredinterface 216 may be utilized to communicate with a subsequent LANstation 218. The WET 214 functioning as a client station, located withinthe BSS 212, may communicate with a client station 114, also locatedwithin the BSS 212, via an RF channel. The WET 214 may enable the LANstation 218 to communicate with the client station 114 without utilizinga portal 126, a DS 110, and/or collocated device 118 functioning as anaccess point.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/207,302 filed Aug. 18, 2005, provides adetailed description of procedures by which a collocated device 118functioning as a configurator may configure a wireless Ethernet terminal214 functioning as a client station, and is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

The WET 214 functioning as an Ethernet LAN terminal device may becoupled to a plurality of LAN stations 218, via a correspondingplurality of wired interfaces 216. A client station 114 and/orcollocated device 118 that communicates information to any of theplurality of LAN stations 218 may communicate information to the WET214. The destination for the information may be a LAN station 218 amonga plurality of LAN stations that may be communicatively coupled to theWET 214. Ethernet frames, comprising information to be communicated bythe client station 114 and/or collocated device 118 to any of theplurality of LAN stations 218 may utilize an address consistent with anaddressing scheme utilized within the BSS 212 associated with the WET214.

The Ethernet frame received via an RF channel within a BSS 212 mayutilize an IEEE 802.11 compliant frame format, for example. Thisreceived frame may be referred to as a WLAN frame and may comprise adestination address field that corresponds to an Ethernet address, ormedia access control (MAC) address, that is associated with the WET 214.The WLAN frame may comprise a physical layer header field and a physicallayer service data unit (PSDU) field as defined in IEEE standard 802.The header field may comprise one or more WLAN MAC addresses, forexample a source WLAN MAC address and a destination WLAN MAC address.The PSDU field may comprise information associated with a higher layerprotocol, for example the Internet Protocol (IP), as specified byInternational Organization for Standardization's (ISO's) protocolreference model (PRM).

The WET 214 may utilize information contained in the PSDU to determine aMAC address associated with one of the plurality of LAN stations 218that are coupled to the WET 214 via a wired interface 216, for example.The MAC address may be associated with a port located at the WET 214that is coupled to a corresponding wired interface 216. The WET 214 maygenerate, and append, a suitable physical layer header to the WLAN framePSDU that comprises the MAC address associated with the LAN station 218to which the WET 214 may transmit the received Ethernet frame via thewired interface 216. An Ethernet frame that may be transmitted via awired interface 216 may utilize a frame format suitable for a LAN inaccordance with IEEE standard 802.3, for example. The transmitted framemay be referred to as a LAN frame. The WET 214 may subsequently transmitLAN frame to the LAN station 218 via the wired interface 216.

A LAN station 218 may communicate information to a client station 114and/or collocated device 118 via the WET 214. LAN frames, comprising theinformation to be communicated to the client station 114 and/orcollocated device 118 may utilize an address consistent with theaddressing scheme utilized within a wired LAN 122 that is associatedwith the client station 114 and/or collocated device 118. The WET 214may generate, and append, a suitable physical layer header to the LANframe PSDU. The WET 214 may transmit the resulting WLAN frame within theBSS 212 via an RF channel. A process by which a WET may convert a WLANframe header to a LAN frame header, and/or convert a LAN frame header toa WLAN frame header may be referred to as transcoding.

In various embodiments of the invention, a plurality of LAN stations 218may communicate with a client station 114 and/or collocated device 118via the wired Ethernet terminal 214. The WET 214 may enable a BSS 212communication with wired LAN stations 218 without utilizing anintermediate portal 126, DS 110 and/or the collocated device 118functioning as an AP. Consequently, the WET 214 may extend the BSS 212to incorporate wired LAN stations 218. The plurality of LAN stations 218may communicate with the client station 114 and/or collocated device 118utilizing a single MAC address, for example. The MAC address, forexample, may be associated with the WET 214 among client stations 114and/or collocated devices 118, which may be located within the ESS 220.Consequently, the plurality of LAN stations 218 may appear to be asingle station among client stations 114 and/or collocated devices 118,which may be located within the ESS 220. The WET 214 may distinguish oneof the LAN stations 218, which is a destination for a received WLANframe based on higher layer information contained within the WLAN frame.The WET 214 may associate a port, located at the WET 214, with anaddress that is associated with a LAN station 218 among the plurality ofLAN stations 218. The port may be coupled to a wired interface 216 thatmay be utilized to communicate information to the LAN station 218 amongthe plurality of LAN stations 218.

FIG. 2 b is a block diagram for a software environment in an exemplarywireless Ethernet terminal, which may be utilized in connection with anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2 b, there is shown a WET214, a wired interface 216, and an RF channel 213. The WET 214 mayfurther comprise a central processing unit (CPU) 214 a, system memory214 b, and code and/or application software 214 c. The wired interface216 may be utilized by the WET 214 to communicate information to and/orfrom a LAN station 218. The RF channel 213 may be utilized by the WET214 to communicate information to and/or from a client station 114and/or collocated device 118, which may be located in a common BSS 212with the WET 214. The WET 214 may be substantially as described withregard to FIG. 2 a.

The CPU 214 a may be adapted to perform digital receiver and/ortransmitter functions in accordance with applicable communicationsstandards. These functions may comprise, but are not limited to, tasksperformed at lower layers in a relevant PRM. These tasks may furthercomprise the physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP), physicalmedium dependent (PMD) functions, and associated layer managementfunctions. The system memory 214 b may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code to be utilized to store, or write, and retrieve,or read, information. The system memory 214 b may comprise a pluralityof memory technologies such as random access memory (RAM). The codeand/or applications software 214 c may comprise a computer program.

In operation, the system memory 214 b may comprise machine-readablestorage having stored thereon at least one code section for enablingcommunication of information in a secure communication system. The atleast one code section may be executable by the CPU 214 a. The at leastone code section may cause the CPU 214 a to perform steps related toextending a BSS 212 to incorporate wired LAN stations 218.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary basic service set environmentthat comprises a wireless Ethernet terminal, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a BSS302, a DS 110, and a plurality of wired stations 324 and 344. The BSS302 may comprise an AP 304, a plurality of wireless stations 306 and308, a wireless Ethernet terminal (WET) 310, a plurality of RF channels303 a, 305, 307 and 309, and a plurality of wired interfaces 303 b, 323and 343. The wired stations 324 and 344 may be substantially asdescribed with respect to the LAN station 124 of FIG. 1. The pluralityof wireless stations 306 and 308 may be substantially as described withrespect to the client station 104 of FIG. 1. The WET 310 may besubstantially as described with respect to the WET 214 of FIG. 2 a. TheAP 304 may be substantially as described with respect to the collocateddevice 108 functioning as an access point of FIG. 1.

The AP 304 may communicate information to the DS 110 via a wiredinterface 303 b and/or a wireless interface 303 a. The wireless station306 may communicate information wirelessly within the BSS 302 via an RFchannel 305. The wireless station 308 may communicate informationwirelessly within the BSS 302 via an RF channel 307. The WET 310 maycommunicate information wirelessly within the BSS 302 via an RF channel309. The WET 310 may communicate information to the wired station 324via the wired interface 323. The wired interface 323 may be coupled to aport located at the WET 310. The WET 310 may communicate information tothe wired station 344 via the wired interface 343. The wired interface343 may be coupled to a port located at the WET 310.

In operation, the wireless station 306 may communicate information to awireless station 308 located in a common BSS 302 with the wirelessstation 306. The wireless station 306 may generate a WLAN frame thatindicates a destination address that corresponds to an address withinthe BSS 302, which is associated with the wireless station 308. Thewireless station 306 may communicate the generated WLAN frame to thewireless station 308 via an RF channel 305. The wireless station 308 mayreceive the transmitted WLAN frame via an RF channel 307.

The wireless station 306 may communicate information to a wired station324 that is communicatively coupled to the WET 310. The WET 310 may belocated in a common BSS 302 with the wireless station 306. The wirelessstation 306 may generate a WLAN frame that indicates a destinationaddress that corresponds to an address within the BSS 302 that isassociated with the WET 310. The wireless station 306 may communicatethe generated WLAN frame to the WET 310 via the RF channel 305. The WET310 may receive the transmitted WLAN frame via an RF channel 309. TheWET 310 may decrypt the received WLAN frame. The WET 310 may inspect thedecrypted WLAN frame PSDU. Based on this inspection, the WET 310 maydetermine a LAN MAC address that may be associated with the wiredstation 324. The WET 310 may transcode the WLAN header into a LANheader.

Subsequent to transcoding, a LAN frame header may indicate a destinationaddress that corresponds to an address within a LAN 122 that isassociated with wired station 324. The WET 310 may generate a LAN headerbased on transcoding of the WLAN header. The WET 310 may generate a LANframe that may be communicated to the wired station 324. The LAN framemay comprise the LAN frame header and at least a portion of thedecrypted WLAN frame PSDU. The WET 310 may determine a port, which islocated at the WET 310, which is associated with the LAN MAC addressthat may be associated with the wired station 324. The WET 310 mayidentify a wired interface 323, which is located at the WET 310, whichmay be communicatively coupled to the port. The WET 310 may transmit theLAN frame to the wired station 324 via the wired interface 323. Thewired station 324 may receive the transmitted LAN frame via the wiredinterface 323.

The wired station 324 may communicate information to a wireless station306 that is communicatively coupled to the WET 310. The WET 310 may belocated in a common BSS 302 with the wireless station 306. The wiredstation 324 may generate a LAN frame indicating a destination addressthat corresponds to an address within the BSS 302 that is associatedwith the wireless station 306. The wired station 324 may communicate thegenerated LAN frame to the WET 310 wired interface 323. The WET 310 mayreceive the transmitted LAN frame via the wired interface 323. The WET310 may inspect the LAN frame header and may transcode the LAN header togenerate a WLAN frame header. The WET 310 may generate a WLAN framecomprising the generated WLAN header and at least a portion of thereceived LAN frame PSDU. The WET 310 may encrypt the generated WLANframe and the resulting encrypted WLAN frame may be communicated to thewireless station 306 via the RF channel 309. The encrypted WLAN framemay be received by the wireless station 306 via the RF channel 305.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps by which a wirelessEthernet terminal may detect a wired station, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, in step 402, a WET 310may detect a wired station 324 at a port located at the WET 310. In step404, the WET 310 may associate a network layer address with the wiredstation 324 at the port located at the WET 310 at which the wiredstation 324 was detected, for example. In step 406, the WET 310 mayassociate a MAC layer address with the wired station 324 at the portlocated at the WET 310 at which the wired station 324 was detected, forexample.

In step 408, the WET 310 may advertise a network layer address, forexample, of the wired station 324 within the BSS 302. The WET 310 mayalso advertise an association between the network layer address of thewired station 324, and/or the MAC layer address of the WET 310 withinthe BSS 302, for example. The WET 310 may advertise this associationwithin the BSS 302 in accordance with procedures specified in IEEEstandard 802.11. Also in step 402, a wired station 324 or 344 may beauthenticated by a configured WET 310 functioning as an Ethernet LANterminal device. The authentication may be performed by manualconfiguration, or based on a protocol, for example as specified in theIEEE standard 802.1X.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps by which a wirelessEthernet terminal may communicate information received from a wirelessterminal to a wired terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 5, in step 502, the WET 310 may receive aWLAN frame from a wireless station 306 via an RF channel 309. In step503, the WET 310 may decrypt the received WLAN frame. In step 504, theWET 310 may remove the WLAN header information from the decryptedreceived WLAN frame to generate a WLAN PSDU. In step 506, the WET 310may determine a network layer destination address from the WLAN PSDU. Instep 508, the WET 310 may locate a WET port address corresponding to thenetwork layer destination address. In step 510, the WET 310 maytranscode the WLAN frame header information. The trancoding may comprisetranslating the header format from a WLAN header format to a LAN headerformat, for example. In step 512, the WET 310 may generate a LAN header.In step 514, the generated LAN header may be appended to at least aportion of the WLAN PSDU to generate a LAN frame. In step 516, the LANframe may be transmitted via a wired interface 323 to the wired station324.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps by which a wirelessEthernet terminal may communicate information received from a wiredterminal to a wireless terminal, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 6, in step 602, the WET 310 may receive aLAN frame from a wired station 324 via a wired interface 323. In step604, the WET 310 may utilize the LAN header information from thereceived LAN frame to generate a LAN PSDU. In step 606, the WET 310 maydetermine a network layer destination address from the LAN PSDU. In step610, the WET 310 may transcode the LAN frame header information. Thetranscoding may comprise translating the header format from a WLANheader format to a LAN header format, for example. The WET 310 mayassociate a network layer destination address in the received LAN headerwith a MAC address that is associated with the collocated device 304functioning as an AP within the common BSS 302 in which the WET 310 islocated. In step 612, the WET 310 may generate a WLAN header. In step614, the generated WLAN header may be appended to the LAN PSDU togenerate a WLAN frame. In step 615, the WET 310 may encrypt thegenerated WLAN frame. In step 616, the encrypted WLAN frame may betransmitted via an RF channel 309.

Various embodiments of a system for enabling communication ofinformation in a secure communication system may comprise a collocateddevice 304 functioning as a configurator that configures a wirelessEthernet terminal 310 functioning as a client station via a network 302.The configured wireless Ethernet terminal 310 may wirelessly receivesinformation from a wireless station 306, and communicate the wirelesslyreceived information to at least one of a plurality of wired stations324 via at least one of a plurality of corresponding wired interfaces323.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a machine-readable storagehaving stored thereon, a computer program having at least one codesection for enabling communication of information in a securecommunication system. The at least one code section may be executed by amachine for causing the machine to perform steps as described herein.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least onecomputer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elementsare spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind ofcomputer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methodsdescribed herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware andsoftware may be a general-purpose computer system with a computerprogram that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computersystem such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for enabling communication of information in a securecommunication system, the method comprising: performing by one or moreprocessors and/or circuits integrated within a wireless Ethernetterminal, wherein said wireless Ethernet terminal is configured by aconfigurator via a network: receiving a wireless local area network(WLAN) frame from a wireless station; transcoding a header of saidreceived WLAN frame to generate a local area network (LAN) header; andcommunicating a LAN frame to wired LAN station via a corresponding wiredinterface based on said generated LAN header.
 2. The method according toclaim 1, comprising receiving LAN frame from said wired LAN station viasaid plurality of corresponding wired interface.
 3. The method accordingto claim 2, comprising encrypting said received LAN frame.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, comprising decrypting said received WLAN frameprior to said communicating of said LAN frame to said wired LAN stationvia said corresponding wired interface.
 5. The method according to claim1, comprising receiving said WLAN frame comprising a WLAN destinationaddress that is associated with said wireless Ethernet terminal, andcommunicating, via said corresponding wired interface, said LAN framethat comprises LAN destination address that is associated with saidwired LAN station.
 6. The method according to claim 1, comprisingassociating a port at said wireless Ethernet terminal with said wiredLAN station.
 7. The method according to claim 6, comprising associatinga LAN destination address that is associated with said wired LAN stationwith said port at said wireless Ethernet terminal.
 8. A non-transitorymachine-readable medium having stored thereon, a computer program havingat least one code section for enabling communication of information in asecure communication system, the at least one code section beingexecutable by a machine for causing the machine to perform stepscomprising: in a wireless Ethernet terminal that is configured by aconfigurator via a network: receiving a wireless local area network(WLAN) frame from a wireless station; transcoding a header of saidreceived WLAN frame to generate a local area network (LAN) header; andcommunicating a LAN frame to wired LAN station via a corresponding wiredinterface based on said generated LAN header.
 9. The non-transitorymachine-readable medium according to claim 8, wherein said at least onecode section comprises code for receiving a LAN frame from said wiredLAN station via said corresponding wired interface.
 10. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium according to claim 9, whereinsaid at least one code section comprises code for encrypting saidreceived LAN frame.
 11. The non-transitory machine-readable mediumaccording to claim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprisescode for decrypting said WLAN frame prior to said communicating of saidLAN frame to said wired LAN station via said corresponding wiredinterface.
 12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium according toclaim 8, wherein said at least one code section comprises code forreceiving said WLAN frame comprising a WLAN destination address that isassociated with said wireless Ethernet terminal, and communicating, viasaid corresponding wired interface, said LAN frame that comprises a LANdestination address that is associated with said wired LAN station. 13.The non-transitory machine-readable medium according to claim 8, whereinsaid at least one code section comprises code for associating a port atsaid wireless Ethernet terminal with said wired LAN station.
 14. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium according to claim 13, whereinsaid at least one code section comprises code for associating a LANdestination address that is associated with said wired LAN station withsaid port at said wireless Ethernet terminal.
 15. A system for enablingcommunication of information in a secure communication system, thesystem comprising: one or more circuits for use in a wireless Ethernetterminal that is configured by a configurator via a network, said one ormore circuits being operable to: receives a wireless local area network(WLAN) frame from a wireless station; transcode a header of saidreceived WLAN frame to generate a local area network (LAN) header; andcommunicate a LAN frame a LAN station via corresponding wired interfacebased on said generated LAN header.
 16. The system according to claim15, wherein said one or more circuits are operable to received a LANframe from said wired LAN station via said corresponding wiredinterface.
 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said one ormore circuits are operable to encrypt said received LAN frame.
 18. Thesystem according to claim 15, wherein said one or more circuits areoperable to decrypt said WLAN frame prior to said communicating of saidLAN frame to said wired LAN station via said corresponding wiredinterface.
 19. The system according to claim 15, wherein said one ormore circuits are operable to receive said WLAN frame comprising a WLANdestination address that is associated with said wireless Ethernetterminal, and communicate, via said corresponding wired interface, saidLAN frame that comprises a LAN destination address that is associatedwith said wired LAN station.
 20. The system according to claim 15,wherein said one or more circuits are operable to associate a port atsaid wireless Ethernet terminal with said wired LAN station.
 21. Thesystem according to claim 20, wherein said one or more circuits areoperable to associate a LAN destination address that is associated withsaid wired LAN station with said port at said wireless Ethernetterminal.
 22. A method for enabling communication of information in asecure communication system, the method comprising: performing by one ormore processors and/or circuits integrated within a wireless Ethernetterminal, wherein said wireless Ethernet terminal is configured by aconfigurator via a network: receiving a local area network (LAN) framefrom a wired LAN station; transcoding a header of said received LANframe to generate a wireless local area network (WLAN) header; andcommunicating a WLAN frame to a wireless station via a correspondingwireless interface based on said generated WLAN header.
 23. Anon-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon, a computerprogram having at least one code section for enabling communication ofinformation in a secure communication system, the at least one codesection being executable by a machine for causing the machine to performsteps comprising: in a wireless Ethernet terminal that is configured bya configurator via a network: receiving a local area network (LAN) framefrom a wired LAN station; transcoding a header of said received LANframe to generate a wireless local area network (WLAN) header; andcommunicating a WLAN frame to a wireless station via a correspondingwireless interface based on said generated WLAN header.
 24. A system forenabling communication of information in a secure communication system,the system comprising: one or more circuits for use in a wirelessEthernet terminal that is configured by a configurator via a network,said one or more circuits being operable to: receive a local areanetwork (LAN) frame from a wired LAN station; transcode a header of saidreceived LAN frame to generate a wireless local area network (WLAN)header; and communicate a WLAN frame to a wireless station via acorresponding wireless interface based on said generated WLAN header.